Toy telephone transmitter



Feb. 9 1926.

C. M. WATROUS TOY TELEPHONE TRANSMITTER Filed May 13, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ClifforclM Wa'firous,

r 1 4% ATTORNEY Feb. 9,1926. I 1,572,852

C. M. WATROUS TOY TELEPHONE TRANSMITTER Filed May 13, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Clifford Watr ous',

' UNITED ST Patented Feb. 9, 1926-.

PATENT QFFLCE.

CLIFFORD M. WATBOUS, OF EAST HAMPTON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO GONG BELLMANUFACTURING COMEANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

TOY TELEPHONE TRANSMITTER.

Application filed May 13,

' of East Hampton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Telephone'Iransmitters, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to toy telephones and is particularly related tothe transmitter employed in an assembled device in conjunction with abase, standard, transmitter and receiver with appurtenant parts, all insimulation of a standard type of telephone.

Usually, these toy devices have some signalling or sound producingmechanism which can be operated by the child in play, to approach inoperation, the effects of a telephone.

In a co-pendiug application, Serial No. 566,903, filed June 8, 1922, Idisclosedand I claimed a telephone transmitter having certain featuresof advantage and'the present invention is directed to special featuresof such a transmitter which in manufacture, have been found to improvethe art of production and provide a more substantial element.

In toy mam-ifacture, it is essential. to secure appearance of thehighest character, in conjunction with stability, as toys ordinarilyreceive rather rough usage.

It is in the elements of advantage to the article and advancement in theart of manufacture, that the essence of the present invention resides.

For purposes of illustration, the transmitter is illustrated, inconjunction with a desk set, in simulation of a standard type oftelephone;

The main object of the invention isto produce a transmitter, componentparts of which may be readily fashioned, assembled and secured ininterlocked arrangement and without liability of buckling of the partsthrough lack of skill of the operative during assembly.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l illustrates a telephone set of the toy type.

1925. Serial no. 29,852.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the transmitter, and its supportingelement.

Figure 3 illustrates the parts in position for assembly.

Figure 4 is a section through a modified constructirm in which certainof the parts are spun together.

Figure 5 shows an elevation of the sup porting bar employed in Figure4-.

Figure 6 is an end view of the same.

F igure 7 illustrates a modified form of supporting bar.

Figure 8 shows a two piece bar.

Figure 9 illustrates the parts assembled.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a 1nodi-' tied form of bar.

Figure 11 IS a sectional view. Figure 12 illustrates a non-slippingclosure plate.

In the manufacture of toys of the type herein described, the essentialsare economy in stock simplicity in formation and as sembly of the partsand sturdiness of the completed article. At first sight, theserequirements would seem to be easy of accomplishment, but it has beenfound, in actual manufacture, that what are apparent- 1y slight details,become allimportant factors in actual manufacture of high' grade goodsmeeting the above qualifications.

Utilizing the invention as expressed herein, con'iparatively light stockmaybe employed which when submitted to the action of dies or spinningoperations, gives a uniform product which permits of high production.This stock is so utilized with various elements that assembly may beeffected even with unskilled labor. Provision is made through theelemental functioning of the parts to obviate liability of imperfectgoods which wouldordinarily occur in assembly unless the assembly weremade by skilled labor and with great care. In fact, the elements must bereduced to a form in which they may be stamped out and spun up, spuntogether, interlocked and clamped, one with reference to the other,without requiring trimming, fitting and particular care in the assembly.

Referring to F gure 12, there is illustrated a transmitter having thegeneral elements of those heretofore described in my prior ap plication.

There is a supporting bar 1, which, as illustrated, is stamped out in aform to afford an abutment 2, against which the shell 3, of thetransmitter may rest.

There is a closure for this transmitter, which as illustrated, is in theform of a disk 4, and there is a mouthpiece 5.

It is essential that these various parts be bound together to form astable structure and to effect this, the bar 1, extends through theplate 4, and mouthpiece 5, these parts having suitable slots or openingsfor the purpose. The end of the bar is then swedged down so that theshell 3, and closure, consisting of the disk 4, and its mouthpiece 5,are firmly interlocked against the abutment 2, of the supporting bar 1.

In my prior application, no particular provision was made for preventingbuckling of the parts when the swedging tool deformed the metal at theend of the bar 1, and this resulted in some loss during production.

Over zealous operatives would often dopress the swedging tool to such anextent as to either buckle the closure plate, mouthpiece or the shell. Y

Even where assembly was effected in a proper manner, there was stillobjection inasmuch as the closure plate 4, was liable to shift withreference to the base 3. This occurred at times during assembly and evenafter assembly, if a toy were dropped so that the disk 4, was given asharp blow it was liable to distort the assembled parts. 7

In order to prevent slippage of the clo-- sure plate 4, such anarrangement as illustrated in Figure 12, is desirable and this may beused with, or without the stop block hereinafter specified. hen usedwith the stop block, there is assurance that there will be no bucklingof the parts during the swedging operations. Vhen used without the stopblock, there is no opportunity of slippage between the baseand theclosure plate, inasmuch as the latter is centered by its annular rimhereinafter described.

To overcome these objections, I now cinploy a stop block 6. This may beof cylin-' drical form and is slipped over the outer end of the bar 1,after the shell 3, has been assembled thereon. The closure, consistingof the plate 4, and mouthpiece 5, are also slipped over the end of thebarl, and rest upon one end of the stop block 6.

It follows that there is a substantial abutment surrounding the bar 1,and against which the upsetting tool for the end of the supporting bar1, may impinge to a considerable extent without liability of bucklingany of the parts.

This arrangement has unusual advantages as it speeds up manufacture,assures perfect goods and adds comparatively no expense. The stop blocksmay be formed of any inexpensive material such as a wood block.

This stop block is particularly advantageous in conjunction with thevarious forms of transmitters illustrated. In Figure 4, the shell of thetransmitter is composed of two parts, 7 and 8, which are stamped andspun up. The base part 7, of the shell, has a lip 9, of sufficientlength to be spun over a flange 10, of the co-operating part 8.

In assembling, the bar 1, has the lower section 7, stop block 11,co-operating sec tion 8, and mouthpiece 13 arranged thereon and thedeforming tool then upsets the end 14, of the bar to secure the elementsin fixed position on the bar 1. The edges of the two parts of the shellare spun one over the other giving an extremely firm constructioi'i andone of very attractive appearance.

Very light metal may be employed in this form of device as the annularring or rim, formed by spinning the parts together, surrounds thetransmitter and acts as a still"- ener to prevent displacement, bucklingor dentin'g of the thin metal.

The supporting bars for the transmitters may be of any desired form. InFigures 1 to 4, they are shown as stampedfrom shcct stock and they maybe perforated fora pivot to be attached tothe standard or may be stampedout of an. angular, piece, all to suit the exigencies of any particularrequirement.

In Figure 7, there is illustrated a bar which has all the necessaryfeatures for an abutment against which to bind the parts of thetransmitter. In this-figure, a blank is formed from thin sheet andfolded upon itself as on the dotted line, causing its two parts to besuperposed so that a cutout portion of the blank will provide a shoulder12, at the properdistance from the end of the bar 15. The end of the bar16, may be suitably formed so that it may be swcdgcd down after theshell parts, mouthpiece, etc, are in place thereon.

If it is desired to form a distinct shoulder for an abutment at oppositesides of the bar, which of course, is preferable, the die will strikeout or deform the metal as at 14 so that the end of the folded sectionas at 12, will form a shoulder on one side and the deformed part of thebody of the blank in line therewith, will be offset at the oppositeside.

In Figures 8 and 9, this same result may be attained by striking out along body part 17, and a shorter body part 18, and then. superposing thetwo parts, spot welding the thin. metal to form a plate bar, as shown inFig. 9, which will have abutn'ients 19, 20, against which the shell maybe bound.

Hit)

lnzlieu-of the form shown in Figures -7 to 9, lugs may beupset 1n thebody ofthc bar 21, as at 22, 23, one being throwntoonc side ofthe barwhile the other 'isthrowntothe oppositeside thereof. This obviouslywillgive an abutment againstwhich theswedging operation may occur forbinding the parts together. These various forms of supporting bardescribedmay be used with facility in conjuction with the stop blockwhich acts as a take up "and spacer between the elements to be assembledwhen the swedging tool deforms the end of the bar to permanently lockthe parts together.

In Figures 5 and .6, in place of using the conventional flat stock, rodstock of appropriate size may be employed in Which case the outer end,provided it is to be tation, and lateral movement.

In Figure 12, there is the same elemental arrangement as in the abovedescribed devices.

The form of the closure plate 50, however, instead of being a flatplate, as heretofore illustrated, has a depression 51, concentric vithits periphery and so formed that the depressed metal forms an annularlike ring 52, which surrounds the outer edge 53, of the. basepart 3.

This annular ring centers the closure plate 50, on the base andmaterially stitl'ens the plate so that it may be secured in placewithout difficulty by swedging the end of the supporting bar 1.

There is no objection to using this dcformed plate, iii so far asappearance is concorned, as in all of the structures, there is thecelluloid or similar disk A, which covers the plate and carries thetrade name and other suitable indicia and this, of course, covers thegroove 51, giving a neat appearance to the device.

It will be obvious, from the above, that while an abutment on the baracts as a stop for the shell of the transmitter casing, such anabutment, in conjunction with a stop block, opens a wider field formanufacture, as any of the forms of bars hereinaboi 'e described may beused successfully with such a stop block.

There is no difficulty in making the parts of the shell with exactitude,as of course, these are struck up on dies or spun up as the case may be,with exactitude. lVhen they are assen'ibled, as hereinabove described,in conjunction with the stop block, there is practically no lossdueto'improper assembly and careless use-of swedgingtoolsdn locking theparts together upon the bar.

ll hat :Iclaim asimy invention and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

:1. As an article of manufacture for a toy telephone, atransmittcrhaving a supporting bar, a transmitter shell, a closure for thetransmitter shell, and a mouthpiece mounted on said bar and meansappurtenant to the peripheral edge of the closur and the edge of theshell'for preventing relative lateral displacement of said parts andmeans upon the supporting bar for binding the various transmitter partsin fixed position thereon.

2. As an articleof n'ianufacture'for a toy telephone transn'iitterhaving a supporting bar, a transmitter shell, a closure for thetransmitter shell and a mouthpiece mounted thereon, annular beadadjacent to the peripheral edge of the closure and cooperating with theedge of the shell to prevent relative lateraldisplacement of said partsand means upon the supporting bar for binding the various transmitterparts in definite position thereon.

3. As an article of iminufacture for a toy telephone, a transmitterhaving a supporting barfor a mouthpiece, a t'ansmittcr shell simportedon the bar with saidmouthpiece and a stop block within the transmittershell and surrounding the bar.

4. 'As an article of iminul'zurturc for atoy telephone a transmittercomprising a sup porting bar having a shoulder, a transn'iitter partresting against the shoulder, a closure for the transmitter part and amouthpiece, a stop block intermediate the transmitter part and closureand a partdeforn'ied from the supporting bar within thell'lOlllJllPlOCO, said deformation adapted to secure the transn'litterparts in place upon the supporting bar. I

5. As an article of manufacture for atoy telephone a transmittercomprising a supporting bar for a mouthpiece, a transmitter shellsupported thereon, a mouthpiece also supported on the bar, a stop blockinter mediate the transmitter shell and mouthpiece and means appurtenantto. the end of the supporting bar including a deformed end thereof forclamping the transmitter parts and mouthpiece in place upon the bar andagainst the stop block.

6. As an article of manufacture for a toy telephone, a transmittercomprising a sup porting bar, a transmitter shell engaged therewith, aclosure for the transn'iitter shell, and a mouthpiece, a stop blockintermediate the transmitter part and mouthpiece and means integral withthe support for clamping the transmitter part in place thereon.

7. An article of manufacture in a toy telephone, a transmittercomprising a support for the'lnouthpiece, a stop for localizing themouthpiece and appurtenant parts upon the support, a stop block forspacing the parts arranged within the transmitter,

a transmitter part and closure therefor, in-.

cluding a mouthpiece and means deformable from the supporting elementfor clamping the transmitter parts and mouthpiece to the support andagainst the stop block.

8. As an article of manufacture for a toy telephone, a transmitterhaving a support ing bar for a mouthpiece, a transmitter shell supportedon the bar with said mouthpiece and a stop block forming an abutmentbetween the parts located within the transmitter shell.

9. As an article of manufacture for a toy telephone, a hollowtransmitter easing having a supporting member, said transmitter easingsupported and secured thereon, the transmitter casing comprising two cuplike parts, each having a flange, the flange of one part spun over theadjacent flange of the other part to provide an annular stiffening bandat the medial line ofthe transmitter casing and a mouthpiece secured onthe support appurtenant to the shell.

10. As an article of manufacture for a toy telephone, a transmitterhaving a supporting member, a transmitter shell supported and securedthereto, said shell comprising two parts spun together at theirperipheral edges, a mouthpiece and a stop block arranged within thetransmitter shell.

11. As an article of manufacture for a toy telephone, a transmittercasing and mouthpiece, a bar for supporting said parts consisting of ablanked out sheet and a superposed part formed to provide an abutmentagainst which the transmitter parts rest and may be clamped, the sheetbeing pressed out to form an offset shoulder opposite the said abutment,the outer end of said bar being formed to clamp thetransmitter parts andmouthpiece against the abutment and shoulder.

12. As an article of manufacture for a toy telephone, a transmittercasing and mouthpiece, a bar for supporting said parts comprising aformed up piece providing an abutment against which the transmitterparts rest, the end of said bar being capable 1 of deformation to clampthe transmitter parts, and mouthpiece against the abutment, and a stopblock within the shell forming an abutment for the deformation of theend of the bar.

13. As an article of manufacture for a toy telephone, a supporting barfor a trans mitter comprising a bar formed from overlayed elements, oneof less length than the other, to provide an abutment, a transmittercasing supported thereon, the end of the bar projecting therethrough,and formed to permit deformation at the end to clamp the transmitterparts in place against the abutment.

CLIFFORD M. WATROUS.

